Lamp socket



June 17, 1930. 5 KRAUT 1,764-315 LAN]? SOCKET Fi1d Des. 14, 1928 INVENTOR Samuel Knauf ATTORNEY Patented June 17, 1930 7 UM'IED STATES PATENT oz=ncia SAMUEL 1B. KRA'U'I, O1 SOU'1H BENID, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB T WESTINGHOUSE ELEG- 'J.B.IG & MAN'UIAGTUBING GOIMIIANY, QORIE'ORATION OB FERNSYINANIA.

man socxm Applioation am December 14, 1928. sm=a m. s2e,os1Q

My invention relates to lighting devices and has particular relation to a lamp receptacle for such devices.

An object of my invention is to provide a lamp receptacle or extension Socket adapted fo1 extending the space between the reoeptacle und the light center.

Anothergbject of my invention is to provide means ior making a firm, positive contact between the current-carrying arts of the lamp a:od the receptaole.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for short-oircuiting the currentoa1rying arts of the receptacle by removal of the lamp.

A still further object of my invention is 150 provide a receptacle having currentcarrying Parts of such size and construction as oo carry heavy currents without heating.

Referring to the drawing in which like figures indicate like arts;

F igure 1 is a top plan view of the receptacle;

Fig. 2 is a view, in perspective, of the receptaole with certain parts broken away for better illustration, the non-metallic portions being indicated by broken lines;

Fig. 3 is a side view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of the device takten along line IIIIII of Fig. l;

Fig. 4: is a. view, in section, of the lampgrigping device utilized in my structure; an

Fig. 5 is a view,1in perspective, of the spring utilized as a part of the lampgripping device.

In practicing my invention, 1 provide a receptacle o1 socket extei1sion comprising a. plug ortion havinga. threaded, shell momber-and a center contact ad2ipted to be in-' serted in an ordinary receptacle, and a. socket portion having a threaded shell member and a resilient center contact member, adapted 101 the reception ofa lamp hase.

A tonguecl portion of tl1e threaded Shell member in the socket ortion of the receptacle is adapted to grip the lamp base and the resilient center contact is adapted 1:0 be moved downwardly by the lamp base against a spring, thus causing a positive electrical connection between the' current-carrying arts of the lamp base and receptacle. Two electrically-conducting wing members 0x1 the resilient center contact, normally provide a short circuit between the threaded shell member of the socket and the resilient center com'sact. Insertion of the lamp base breaks the short circuit.

Referring more partici1larly to Figs. 2 and 3, the receptaole comprises a *socket base 9 which may be of any suitalole material, such as porcelain, recessed in the upper or socket end 10 so es to provide a recess 11 in which may be moumed a. threaded female sliell member 12 A. cylindrical oenter contact 13 is mounted on a, plunger 14 which in turn asses through and is engaged by a Washer 15. A flexible connector1 is fastened to the under-side of the cylindrical contact m mber and is secured by means of a holt and nut 17 to a suitable connector 18. The

connect0r 18 in turn is secured ancl makes electrical connection with a. contact 19 loy means of a holt 20 which asses through the base of the receptacle.

The center con'tact member 19, together with a male threaded shell member 21, coustitute the electrical conducting means for the plug portion 22 of the receptacle The threaded shell members are secured to the receptacle by means of' sorews 23 which are adapted to pass through the base of the fe male shell member 12 and through the base of the receptacle to the male shell memher 21 where they engage th.e ring 24. coustituting a portion of the male shell member 21. In addition to furnishing a means for fastening the Shell members in place 011 th.e

receptacle, the screws 23 constitute an elecranged in such a manner tha.t the tongue may be urged inwardly toward the center of the socket to grip the lamp base when the lamp is in place in the receptacle. In order to provide means for urging the tongue member inwardly, I have provided a spring member 32 shown in Fig. 5 having a resilient tongue 33 disposed at an angle to the spring member such that when the spring member is located under the receptacle und. engaged in place by bolts -which pass through 21 suitable opening 30 in the spring member, the tongue 33 urges the tongue member 31 of the shell inwa1dly to grip the lamp base.

The cylindrical center contact 13 mounted on plunger 14 is provided with extending wing portions 34 Which are adapted to make contact with the bottoxn portion of the female shell member 12 when the center contaci; a.nd plunger are in the normal extended osition. A shou1der portion 35 on the ins1de of the receptacle provides a means for supgorting the washer 15 again@t the pressure 0 the spring 36 und causes the center contact members amd wings 34 normally to be urged upwardly against the base of the shell member 12. When the lamp base is inserted in the 1amp receptacle und screwed down, the center contact of the la.mp base is driven against the contact 13, moving it downwardly, and the downward movernent of the contact causes the wing members 34 to be disconnected f rom the shell 12. The current carrying parts of the receptacle are then open circuited and the lamp is energized. This feature is very necessary in order that the remaining lamps in a series lighting circuit may be kept 011- ergized.

The invention, as shown and described, is directed to an extension socket which may be utilized when a lamp having a short distance between the base and light center is to be utilized 01 for any other condition in which a lamp receptacle is t0 be used but may be modified for use as a regulation' lamp socket.

It is apparent that a positive contact 1s made between the different current -carrying arts of the lamp and receptacle and that the current-carrying parts are so a1- ranged that they Will carry heavy currents without over-heating. The plunger and center contact are arranged t0 move vertically against the lamp base and the spring is located in the cooler part of the receptacle so-that a firm pressure and consequently a good electrical connection is always maintained with th6 lamp base.

It is apparent that modifications of my device may be made by those skilled in the' art. Such modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a lamp receptacle comprising an extension lamp socket and' a resiliently mounted cente r contact member, means for short-circuiting the electrical circuits 0f the receptacle comprising win members 0n ehe center contact member a apted to contuct with the base of the socket only when the lamp is removed. 1

2. In a lamp re'ceptacle comprising an extension shell member for engaging a. 1amp base and a resiliently mounted center comtact member, means for short-circuiting the electrical circuits of the receptacle comprising wing members on the center contact membe'r adapted to contact with the shell member when the lamp is removed and to be disconnected from the socket by depression of the center -contact and wing rnembers by the insertion of the lamp.

3. In a lamp receptacle comprising a p1ug member having a lower screw-threaded shell and a center contact member und a socket member having a screw-threaded shell and a plunger centr contact member, a series autout associated with the plunger, means for electrically connecting the respective shell portions comprising a plurality 0f bolts threaded through the two she1ls und rneans for electrically connecting the center contact portions cgmprising a plunger and an electrically con'ducting connector extending through the base 0f the receptacle to engage the lower center contact member.

4. In a lamp receptacle provided, at one end, with a plug member having a screwthreaded shell and a socket member', at the opposite end, having a. screw-threaded shell eli=ctrically connected to saic1 first mentioned shell, said plug being provided with a center contnct member, said socket member being provided with a plunger having an upper center contact member for said socket and said center contact members being permanently electrically connected c0 each othe'r and a series cut-out associated with said plunger.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 7 day of' December,

SAMUEL B. KRAUT. 

